| Sylvania City School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
5517.01 - HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND BULLYING
Introduction
The Board of Education shall develop this policy in consultation with parents, school employees, school volunteers, students and community members.
Prohibitions
Harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students in the school environment can substantially interfere with their ability to learn, perform, and feel safe. Therefore, any conduct, communication, activity, or practice that occurs at any time, on school property or during any school sponsored event and at the times and/or places set forth in the Code of Student Conduct, that constitutes harassment, intimidation, or bullying involving students shall be strictly prohibited. Students who are determined to have engaged in such behavior are subject to disciplinary action, which may include suspension or expulsion from school. Further, any such conduct, communication, activity, or practice should be immediately reported to the building principal or other responsible school employee.
Procedures, Investigation and Documentation
To implement this policy and to address the existence of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in the schools, the following procedures shall be followed:
| A. | Students must report acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying to teachers, District employees, and/or school administrators. | |
| B. | The parents or guardians of students should file written reports of suspected harassment, intimidation, or bullying with the building principal or other appropriate administrator. | |
| C. | Teachers and other school staff who witness acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or receive student reports of harassment, intimidation, or bullying shall notify school administrators. | |
| D. | School administrators shall investigate and document any written or oral reports. | |
| E. | School administrators shall notify both the parents of a student who commits acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and the parents or guardians of students against whom such acts were committed, and allow access to any written reports pertaining to the incident, to the extent permitted by R.C. 3319.321 and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. |
Definition of Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying
In accordance with this policy, "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" means any intentional written, verbal, or physical act that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior of both:
| A. | causes mental or physical harm to the other student; and | |
| B. | is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive, either by itself or in the context of other harassing or bullying actions taken outside the school jurisdiction, that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment. |
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying also includes violence within a dating relationship.
Retaliation is Prohibited
Retaliation against those who file a complaint or participate in the investigation of the complaint is prohibited. Therefore, filing of a complaint or otherwise reporting harassment, intimidation, or bullying will not reflect upon the student's status, nor will it affect future employment, grades, or work assignments. Further, the administrator is directed to implement strategies for protecting a victim from retaliation following a report
Disciplinary Interventions
When acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying are verified and a disciplinary response is warranted, students are subject to the full range of disciplinary consequences. However, such discipline shall not infringe on any student's rights under the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Publication, Training, Immunity and Board Summary
This policy shall appear in any student handbooks, and in any publications that set forth the comprehensive rules, procedures, and standards of conduct for schools and students in the District. Information regarding the policy shall be incorporated into employee training materials.
A School District employee, student, or volunteer shall be individually immune from liability in a civil action for damages arising from reporting an incident in accordance with the policy if that person reports an incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying promptly in good faith and in compliance with the procedures as specified in the policy.
The District administration will semi-annually provide the president of the Board a written summary of all reported incidents and post the summary on the District website to the extent permitted by State and Federal student privacy laws.
R.C. 3313.666, 3313.667
State Board of Education Model Policy (2007)
Adopted 1/26/04
Revised 2/11/08
Revised 6/14/10